Method and apparatus for generating media content

ABSTRACT

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a storage medium including computer instructions to receive sensory information at a media device from a first mobile communication device where the first mobile communication device obtains at least a portion of the sensory information from at least one second mobile communication device in response to a broadcast by the first mobile communication device of a wireless signal representing a notice to obtain the sensory information, where the sensory information is associated with an environment of the first mobile communication device, and where the sensory information comprises images of the environment. The computer instructions can enable generating a plurality of personal content utilizing at least a portion of the sensory information, where each of the plurality of personal content includes some of the images captured at different perspectives. Other embodiments are disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/193,166 filed Jul. 28, 2011, which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to media content and morespecifically to generating the media content.

BACKGROUND

Media content is generally experienced by consumers via devices such ascomputers, televisions, radios, and mobile electronics. Media content isfrequently delivered by service providers, who send media content, suchas television programming, radio, and video, directly to consumers forenjoyment at their physical location. Service providers also oftenprovide access to the internet and to internet-based media content, suchas websites, games, social networking, and virtual-reality applications.Consumers often desire to customize media content and share that contentwith others.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-2 depict illustrative embodiments of communication systems thatprovide media services;

FIG. 3 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a web portal forinteracting with the communication systems of FIGS. 1-2;

FIG. 4 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication deviceutilized in the communication systems of FIGS. 1-2;

FIGS. 5-6 depict illustrative embodiments of communication systems thatprovide media services;

FIG. 7 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a method operating inportions of the systems described in FIGS. 1-6;

FIG. 8 depict illustrative embodiments of a communication system thatprovides media services;

FIG. 9 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a method operating inportions of the systems and methods described in FIGS. 1-8; and

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of acomputer system within which a set of instructions, when executed, maycause the machine to perform any one or more of the methods discussedherein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure describes, among other things, illustrativeembodiments for generating media content utilizing a mobilecommunication device, where the media content is associated with anenvironment. The mobile communication device can retrieve sensoryinformation associated with the environment from a sensor device coupledwith the mobile communication device, including still or moving imagesof the environment. The sensory information can be utilized to generatea plurality of personal content, where each of the personal contentincludes at least some images captured at different perspectives. Thedifferent personal content can be selectively accessed by differentparties, such as based on a relationship between the requesting partyand the user that generated the personal content.

The mobile communication device can broadcast a notice to obtain othersensory information associated with the environment from one or moreother mobile communication devices and one or more fixed communicationdevices that have captured the other sensory information associated withthe environment. In one example, the devices can exchange sensoryinformation so that each device can generate its own media content. Thedevices can negotiate with each other for access to the sensoryinformation. This application incorporates by reference U.S. applicationSer. No. 13/193,019 entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING MEDIACONTENT.”

In one or more embodiments, the devices can anonymously provide accessto the sensory information. In one or more embodiments, the mediacontent can be generated into three dimensional (3D) media content, suchas based on images captured by different devices from differentperspectives. The access to the sensory information can be shared sothat a first device receives sensory information via a second devicewhere the sensory information was captured by a third device and wherethe first and third devices do not need to communicate with each otherto share the sensory information. The media content can be generated bythe mobile communication device and/or can be generated by anotherdevice, such as a remote server which receives the sensory informationfrom the mobile communication device. Other embodiments are contemplatedby the present disclosure.

One embodiment of the present disclosure includes a media device havinga memory and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor can beoperable to receive sensory information from a first mobilecommunication device, where the first mobile communication deviceobtains at least a portion of the sensory information from at least onesecond mobile communication device and at least one fixed communicationdevice in response to a broadcast by the first mobile communicationdevice of a wireless signal representing a notice to obtain the sensoryinformation. The sensory information can be associated with anenvironment of the first mobile communication device. The sensoryinformation can include images of the environment. The first mobilecommunication device can be associated with a user. The processor canalso be operable to receive criteria for generating personal content andgenerate a plurality of personal content utilizing at least a portion ofthe sensory information based on the criteria, where each of theplurality of personal content includes some of the images captured atdifferent perspectives. The processor can further be operable to receivea request for presentation of the plurality of personal content, therequest being associated with a requestor, determine a relationshipbetween the requestor and the user, and provide for display on apresentation device, one personal content of the plurality of personalcontent based on a relationship between the requestor and the user.

One embodiment of the present disclosure is a method including obtainingsensory information at a media device from a group of communicationdevices, where a first mobile communication device of the group ofcommunication devices obtains at least a portion of the sensoryinformation from at least one second mobile communication device inresponse to a broadcast by the first mobile communication device of awireless signal representing a notice to obtain the sensory information.The sensory information can be associated with an environment of thefirst mobile communication device. The sensory information can includeimages of the environment. The first mobile communication device can beassociated with a user. The method can also include generating at themedia device, a plurality of personal content utilizing at least aportion of the sensory information, where each of the plurality ofpersonal content includes some of the images captured at differentperspectives. The method can further include receiving at the mediadevice, a request for presentation of the plurality of personal content,the request being associated with a requestor. The method can includedetermining at the media device, a relationship between the requestorand the user, and providing at the media device for display on apresentation device, one personal content of the plurality of personalcontent based on a relationship between the requestor and the user.

One embodiment of the present disclosure includes a non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium which includes computer instructions toreceive sensory information at a media device from a first mobilecommunication device, where the first mobile communication deviceobtains at least a portion of the sensory information from at least onesecond mobile communication device in response to a broadcast by thefirst mobile communication device of a wireless signal representing anotice to obtain the sensory information. The sensory information can beassociated with an environment of the first mobile communication device.The sensory information can comprise images of the environment. At leasta portion of the sensory information obtained by the first mobilecommunication device from the at least one second mobile communicationdevice can be in exchange for other sensory information captured by asensory device coupled with the first mobile communication device. Thecomputer instructions can enable generating a plurality of personalcontent utilizing at least a portion of the sensory information, whereeach of the plurality of personal content includes some of the imagescaptured at different perspectives.

FIG. 1 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a first communicationsystem 100 for delivering media content. The communication system 100can generate media content related to an environment 101, such as aconcert, a sporting event, a user walking through a shopping mall, auser playing at a park, and so forth. The communication system 100 cangenerate the media content by capturing different sensory informationfrom different communication devices that are in proximity to theenvironment 101. The sensory information can include still or movingimages, and can include other types of sensory information such astemperature, weather, lighting, color, audio, location information,time, season of the year, aroma associated with the environment, and soforth. The communication system 100 can allow mobile devices toselectively exchange sensory information, including in a daisy chainfashion where devices indirectly share sensory information via otherdevices without direct communication, so that the mobile devices canenhance their access to sensory information of the environment 101. Thesystem 100 can allow for generating different versions of personalcontent from the sensory information, such as from differentperspectives, different people speaking and so forth. Sharing of thepersonal content can be based on a number of factors, including arelationship between the requestor and the user that generated thecontent.

The communication system 100 can represent an Internet ProtocolTelevision (IPTV) media system. The IPTV media system can include asuper head-end office (SHO) 110 with at least one super headend officeserver (SHS) 111 which receives media content from satellite and/orterrestrial communication systems. In the present context, media contentcan represent in whole or in part, for example, audio content, movingimage content such as 2D or 3D videos, video games, virtual realitycontent, still image content, and combinations thereof. The SHS server111 can forward packets associated with the media content to one or morevideo head-end servers (VHS) 114 via a network of video head-end offices(VHO) 112 according to a common multicast communication protocol.

The VHS 114 can distribute multimedia content, including broadcastcontent, via an access network 118 to commercial and/or residentialbuildings 102 housing a gateway 104 (such as a residential or commercialgateway). The access network 118 can represent a group of digitalsubscriber line access multiplexers (DSLAMs) located in a central officeor a service area interface that provide broadband services over fiberoptical links or copper twisted pairs 119 to buildings 102. The gateway104 can use common communication technology to distribute broadcastsignals to media processors 106 such as Set-Top Boxes (STBs) which inturn present broadcast channels to media devices 108 such as computersor television sets managed in some instances by a media controller 107(such as an infrared or RF remote control).

The gateway 104, the media processors 106, and/or media devices 108 canutilize tethered communication technologies (such as coaxial, powerlineor phone line wiring) or can operate over a wireless access protocolsuch as Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), Bluetooth, Zigbee, or other present ornext generation local or personal area wireless network technologies. Byway of these interfaces, unicast communications can also be invokedbetween the media processors 106 and subsystems of the IPTV media systemfor services such as video-on-demand (VoD), browsing an electronicprogramming guide (EPG), or other infrastructure services.

A satellite broadcast television system 129 can be used also in themedia system of FIG. 1. The satellite broadcast television system can beoverlaid, operably coupled with, or replace the IPTV system as anotherrepresentative embodiment of communication system 100. In thisembodiment, signals transmitted by a satellite 115 carrying mediacontent can be received by a satellite dish receiver 131 coupled to thebuilding 102. Modulated signals received by the satellite dish receiver131 can be transferred to the media processors 106 for demodulating,decoding, encoding, and/or distributing broadcast channels to the mediadevices 108. The media processors 106 can be equipped with a broadbandport to the ISP network 132 to enable interactive services such as VoDand EPG as described above.

In yet another embodiment, an analog or digital cable broadcastdistribution system such as cable TV system 133 can be overlaid,operably coupled with, or replace the IPTV system and/or the satelliteTV system as another representative embodiment of communication system100. In this embodiment, the cable TV system 133 can also provideInternet, telephony, and interactive media services.

The embodiments of the present disclosure can apply to other present ornext generation over-the-air and/or landline media content servicessystem.

Some of the network elements of the IPTV media system can be coupled toone or more computing devices 130, a portion of which can operate as aweb server for providing web portal services over an Internet ServiceProvider (ISP) network 132 to wireline media devices 108 or portablecommunication devices 116.

Multiple forms of media services can be offered to media devices overlandline technologies in communication system 100 such as through thedevices and/or techniques described above. Additionally, media servicescan be offered to media devices by way of a wireless access base station117 operating according to common wireless access protocols such asGlobal System for Mobile or GSM, Code Division Multiple Access or CDMA,Time Division Multiple Access or TDMA, Universal MobileTelecommunications or UMTS, World interoperability for Microwave orWiMAX, Software Defined Radio or SDR, Long Term Evolution or LTE, and soon. Other present and next generation wide area wireless networktechnologies are contemplated by the present disclosure.

Communication system 100 can also provide for all or a portion of thecomputing devices 130 to function as a sensory information server(herein referred to as server 130). The server 130 can use commoncomputing and communication technology to perform function 162, whichcan include among things, coordinating the gathering of sensoryinformation from different mobile and fixed communications devices inproximity to the environment 101.

The server 130 can be used to receive sensory data representingcharacteristics of an environment of a source device, such as one of themobile communication devices 116. The server 130 can also be used tofacilitate the gathering of the sensory data, such as providing aplatform for exchanging sensory data between mobile communicationdevices and/or providing a platform for negotiating obtaining mediacontent, such as from a commercial entity that is capturing images of anevent occurring in the environment (e.g., images of a baseball game).

In one or more embodiments, the server 130 can be used for generatingmedia content based on sensory information captured by the group ofcommunication devices (e.g., mobile and/or fixed communication devices).For instance, the server 130 can generate media content that showsvarious images of the environment, including as a live scrap book of theuser. The media content can be generated by various devices, includingthe server 130, the mobile device 116, the STB 106 or other devices ofthe communication system 100.

The media content can present the environment at various viewing anglesand/or at a selected viewing angle. In one embodiment, the live scrapbook can be presented at a viewing angle designated by a user (such asin a user profile) and can further allow access to other viewing angleswhen the user desires, such as pausing the presentation of the livescrap book so that the other viewing angles can be presented. Thesensory information also enables utilizing different sensory data fromdifferent devices to further enhance the media content. For example,images can be captured from a far distance to an event of theenvironment (e.g., a football game) by a first communication device toallow capturing a view of all of the players in the football game whileaudio can be captured from a close distance to the field of the footballgame by a second communication device to allow hearing the event as ifthe user were present on the field of the football game.

In one embodiment, portions of the sensory information can be filteredbased on quality. For instance, audio content can be compared andselected, including utilizing only portions of a first audio content andcombining it with portions of a second audio content, so that the audioassociated with the environment has more clarity. Other criteria canalso be utilized for filtering portions of the sensory information. Inone example, the sensory information can be filtered based on accuracy.For example, if the sensory information is temperature then atemperature reading that is believed to be inaccurate, such as based ona comparison with other sensory information or based on a location ofthe temperature sensor being too close to a heat source, can be ignored.As another example, parental controls, user preferences, digital rightsmanagement and so forth can be utilized in determining whether capturedsensory information should be filtered out of the generation of themedia content. For instance, images of portions of events (e.g., actionsoccurring in an audience of the event in the environment 101) that areinappropriate for children can be filtered out of the media content. Thefiltering can be based on user preferences, information stored in a userprofile, monitored consumption of a user and so forth.

The media processors 106 and mobile communication devices 116 can beadapted with software functions 164 and 166, respectively, to furtherutilize the services of the server 130. For example, the mediaprocessors 106 and portable communication devices 116 can be adapted toexecute software functions 164 and 166, respectively, to collect andreport sensory data to the server 130 representing characteristics ofthe environments of the media processors 106 and mobile communicationdevices 116, respectively. In one embodiment, the software functions 166can include retrieving sensory information from a sensor device coupledwith the mobile communication device 116. The sensor device can be acamera, such as integrated with the mobile communication device 116 orin communication therewith via wireless and/or tethered communication.Other types of sensor devices can also be utilized, including audiorecorders, temperature sensors, location detectors, and so forth.

In one embodiment, the sensory information can be provided to the mediaprocessor 106 for generating personal content, including a plurality ofdifferent versions of the personal content. The different versions canbe based on criteria established by the user, such as a version forfamily and a version for friends. The different versions can highlightdifferent people, different audio, different objects and so forth. Othervariations of the versions can include different supplemental contentbeing added to the personal content, such as different background musicor different tags for tangential information related to the environment.For example, a family version may include tags that provide links orother information to similar family outings where as a friend's versionmay provide links or other information to particular friends and theirpersonal information.

FIG. 2 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication system 200employing IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network architecture tofacilitate the combined services of circuit-switched and packet-switchedsystems. Communication system 200 can be overlaid or operably coupledwith communication system 100 as another representative embodiment ofcommunication system 100.

The communication system 200 can generate media content related to anenvironment in proximity to one or more of the mobile communicationdevices of the system. The communication system 200 can generate themedia content by capturing different sensory information from differentcommunication devices that are in proximity to the environment. Thesensory information can include still or moving images, and can includeother types of sensory data such as temperature, weather, lighting,color, audio, location information, time, season of the year, aromaassociated with the environment, and so forth. The communication system200 allows mobile devices to selectively exchange sensory information,including in a daisy chain fashion where devices indirectly sharesensory information via other devices without direct communication, sothat the mobile devices can enhance their access to sensory informationof the environment. The communication system 200 also allows usersproviding and/or receiving sensory information to remain anonymous.Communication system 200 enables exchange of the sensory information viapacket-switched and circuit-switched communication technologies.

Communication system 200 can comprise a Home Subscriber Server (HSS)240, a tElephone NUmber Mapping (ENUM) server 230, and other commonnetwork elements of an IMS network 250. The IMS network 250 canestablish communications between IMS-compliant communication devices(CDs) 201, 202, Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) CDs 203, 205,and combinations thereof by way of a Media Gateway Control Function(MGCF) 220 coupled to a PSTN network 260. The MGCF 220 need not be usedwhen a communication session involves IMS CD to IMS CD communications. Acommunication session involving at least one PSTN CD may utilize theMGCF 220.

IMS CDs 201, 202 can register with the IMS network 250 by contacting aProxy Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF) which communicates with aninterrogating CSCF (I-CSCF), which in turn, communicates with a ServingCSCF (S-CSCF) to register the CDs with the HSS 240. To initiate acommunication session between CDs, an originating IMS CD 201 can submita Session Initiation Protocol (SIP INVITE) message to an originatingP-CSCF 204 which communicates with a corresponding originating S-CSCF206. The originating S-CSCF 206 can submit the SIP INVITE message to oneor more application servers (ASs) 217 that can provide a variety ofservices to IMS subscribers.

For example, the application servers 217 can be used to performoriginating call feature treatment functions on the calling party numberreceived by the originating S-CSCF 206 in the SIP INVITE message.Originating treatment functions can include determining whether thecalling party number has international calling services, call IDblocking, calling name blocking, 7-digit dialing, and/or is requestingspecial telephony features (e.g., *72 forward calls, *73 cancel callforwarding, *67 for caller ID blocking, and so on). Based on initialfilter criteria (iFCs) in a subscriber profile associated with a CD, oneor more application servers may be invoked to provide various calloriginating feature services.

Additionally, the originating S-CSCF 206 can submit queries to the ENUMsystem 230 to translate an E.164 telephone number in the SIP INVITEmessage to a SIP Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) if the terminatingcommunication device is IMS-compliant. The SIP URI can be used by anInterrogating CSCF (I-CSCF) 207 to submit a query to the HSS 240 toidentify a terminating S-CSCF 214 associated with a terminating IMS CDsuch as reference 202. Once identified, the I-CSCF 207 can submit theSIP INVITE message to the terminating S-CSCF 214. The terminating S-CSCF214 can then identify a terminating P-CSCF 216 associated with theterminating CD 202. The P-CSCF 216 may then signal the CD 202 toestablish Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication services,thereby enabling the calling and called parties to engage in voiceand/or data communications. Based on the iFCs in the subscriber profile,one or more application servers may be invoked to provide various callterminating feature services, such as call forwarding, do not disturb,music tones, simultaneous ringing, sequential ringing, etc.

In some instances the aforementioned communication process issymmetrical. Accordingly, the terms “originating” and “terminating” inFIG. 2 may be interchangeable. It is further noted that communicationsystem 200 can be adapted to support video conferencing. In addition,communication system 200 can be adapted to provide the IMS CDs 201, 202with the multimedia and Internet services of communication system 100 ofFIG. 1, including the sensory information gathered from various mobiledevice in proximity to an event or environment. It is furthercontemplated that the CDs of FIG. 2 can operate as wireline and/orwireless devices. For example, the CDs of FIG. 2 can be communicativelycoupled to a cellular base station 117 such as shown in FIG. 1, afemtocell (not shown), a WiFi router, a DECT base unit, or anothersuitable wireless access unit to establish communications with the IMSnetwork 250 of FIG. 2.

If the terminating communication device is instead a PSTN CD such as CD203 or CD 205 (in instances where the cellular phone only supportscircuit-switched voice communications), the ENUM system 230 can respondwith an unsuccessful address resolution which can cause the originatingS-CSCF 206 to forward the call to the MGCF 220 via a Breakout GatewayControl Function (BGCF) 219. The MGCF 220 can then initiate the call tothe terminating PSTN CD over the PSTN network 260 to enable the callingand called parties to engage in voice and/or data communications.

It is further appreciated that the CDs of FIG. 2 can operate as wirelineor wireless devices. Although not shown, the CDs of FIG. 2 can becommunicatively coupled to a cellular base station 221, a femtocell, aWiFi router, a DECT base unit, or another suitable wireless access unitto establish communications with the IMS network 250 of FIG. 2. Thecellular access base station 121 can operate according to commonwireless access protocols such as Global System for Mobile (GSM), CodeDivision Multiple Access (CDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA),Universal Mobile Telecommunications (UMTS), World interoperability forMicrowave (WiMAX), Software Defined Radio (SDR), Long Term Evolution(LTE), and so on. Other present and next generation wireless networktechnologies are contemplated by the present disclosure. Accordingly,multiple wireline and wireless communication technologies arecontemplated for the CDs of FIG. 2.

It is further contemplated that cellular phones supporting LTE cansupport packet-switched voice and packet-switched data communicationsand thus may operate as IMS-compliant mobile devices. In thisembodiment, the cellular base station 221 may communicate directly withthe IMS network 250.

Communication system 200 can include or otherwise be coupled with server130 of FIG. 1 for purposes similar to those described above. It isfurther contemplated by the present disclosure that the server 130 canperform the function 162 and thereby facilitate gathering of sensoryinformation and/or generating media content based on gathered sensoryinformation for subscribers associated with CDs 201, 202, 203, and 205.CDs 201, 202, 203, and 205 can be adapted with software to performfunction 170 to utilize and integrate with the media content generationand/or sensory information gathering performed by the server 130. It isfurther contemplated that the server 130 can be an integral part of theapplication server(s) 217, where the application server(s) 217 performsfunction 172, which can be substantially similar to function 162 andadapted to the operation of the IMS network 250.

FIG. 3 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a web portal 302 which canbe hosted by server applications operating from the computing devices130 of the communication system 100 illustrated in FIG. 1. The webportal 302 can be used for managing services of communication systems100-200. A web page of the web portal 302 can be accessed by a UniformResource Locator (URL) with an Internet browser such as Microsoft'sInternet Explorer™, Mozilla's Firefox™, Apple's Safari™, or Google'sChrome™ using an Internet-capable communication device such as thosedescribed in FIGS. 1-2. The web portal 302 can be configured, forexample, to access a media processor 106 and services managed therebysuch as a Digital Video Recorder (DVR), a Video on Demand (VoD) catalog,an Electronic Programming Guide (EPG), or a personal catalog (such aspersonal videos, pictures, audio recordings, etc.) stored at the mediaprocessor 106. The web portal 302 can also be used for provisioning IMSservices described earlier, provisioning Internet services, provisioningcellular phone services, and so on.

It is contemplated by the present disclosure that the web portal 302 canfurther be utilized to manage and provision software applications162-172 of the devices of FIGS. 1-2, respectively, as described earlier.In one embodiment, web portal 302 can be utilized for selecting thenotice signal that is broadcast by the mobile communication device toobtain sensory information from other communication devices. As anexample, a user can access the web portal 302 via a web browseroperating on a mobile communication device 116. The web portal can beutilized for selecting a strength of the wireless signal that is to bebroadcast, where the selection can be based on the characteristics ofthe environment. For instance, the strength of the broadcast signal canbe based on the size of the environment so that the broadcast is beingreceived by other mobile communication devices that are in proximity tothe environment rather than mobile communication devices that are toofar from the environment to provide any useful sensory information.While this embodiment describes use of the web portal to select thesignal strength, the exemplary embodiments can also select the signalstrength without use of the web portal, such as based on an analysismade by the processor of the mobile communication device. The analysiscan be based on characteristics of the environment that are detected orotherwise determined by the mobile communication device, such as usingGPS location information to determine that a stronger signal is neededbecause the environment includes numerous obstructions such asbuildings. The analysis can also be based on inputs of a user such as atype of environment (e.g., a soccer stadium), size of environment,location of environment, type of location (open areas rather than a citywith buildings obstructing the wireless broadcast), and so forth.

FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a communication device 400.Communication device 400 can serve in whole or in part as anillustrative embodiment of the devices depicted in FIGS. 1-2. Thecommunication device 400 can comprise a wireline and/or wirelesstransceiver 402 (herein transceiver 402), a user interface (UI) 404, apower supply 414, a location receiver 416, and a controller 406 formanaging operations thereof. The transceiver 402 can support short-rangeor long-range wireless access technologies such as Bluetooth, WiFi,Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT), or cellularcommunication technologies, just to mention a few. Cellular technologiescan include, for example, CDMA-1X, UMTS/HSDPA, GSM/GPRS, TDMA/EDGE,EV/DO, WiMAX, SDR, LTE, as well as other next generation wirelesscommunication technologies as they arise. The transceiver 402 can alsobe adapted to support circuit-switched wireline access technologies(such as PSTN), packet-switched wireline access technologies (such asTCPIP, VoIP, etc.), and combinations thereof.

The UI 404 can include a depressible or touch-sensitive keypad 408 witha navigation mechanism such as a roller ball, a joystick, a mouse, or anavigation disk for manipulating operations of the communication device400. The keypad 408 can be an integral part of a housing assembly of thecommunication device 400 or an independent device operably coupledthereto by a tethered wireline interface (such as a USB cable) or awireless interface supporting for example Bluetooth. The keypad 408 canrepresent a numeric keypad commonly used by phones, and/or a Qwertykeypad with alphanumeric keys. The UI 404 can further include a display410 such as monochrome or color LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), OLED(Organic Light Emitting Diode) or other suitable display technology forconveying images to an end user of the communication device 400. In anembodiment where the display 410 is touch-sensitive, a portion or all ofthe keypad 408 can be presented by way of the display 410 withnavigation features.

The UI 404 can also include an audio system 412 that utilizes commonaudio technology for conveying low volume audio (such as audio heardonly in the proximity of a human ear) and high volume audio (such asspeakerphone for hands free operation). The audio system 412 can furtherinclude a microphone for receiving audible signals of an end user. Theaudio system 412 can also be used for voice recognition applications.The UI 404 can further include an image sensor 413 such as a chargedcoupled device (CCD) camera for capturing still or moving images.

The power supply 414 can utilize common power management technologiessuch as replaceable and rechargeable batteries, supply regulationtechnologies, and charging system technologies for supplying energy tothe components of the communication device 400 to facilitate long-rangeor short-range portable applications. The location receiver 416 canutilize common location technology such as a global positioning system(GPS) receiver capable of assisted GPS for identifying a location of thecommunication device 400 based on signals generated by a constellationof GPS satellites, thereby facilitating common location services such asnavigation.

The communication device 400 can use the transceiver 402 to alsodetermine a proximity to a cellular, WiFi, Bluetooth, or other wirelessaccess points by common sensing techniques such as utilizing a receivedsignal strength indicator (RSSI) and/or a signal time of arrival (TOA)or time of flight (TOF). The controller 406 can utilize computingtechnologies such as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP),and/or a video processor with associated storage memory such as Flash,ROM, RAM, SRAM, DRAM or other storage technologies.

The communication device 400 can be coupled to a sensor device 450 whichcaptures sensory information associated with an environment, such asenvironment 101 of FIG. 1. The sensory information can be of varioustypes and can be captured by corresponding types of detection devices.For example, the sensory information can be one or more of images,audio, temperature, weather, lighting, color, location information,time, season of the year, and aroma associated with the environment. Thecoupling of the sensor device 450 with the communication device 400 canbe of various types, including: the sensor device being integrated inthe communication device, the sensor device being tethered or otherwiseconnected via a hardwire to the communication device and/or the sensordevice being wirelessly in communication with the communication device.The exemplary embodiments can also include the image sensor 413, theaudio system 412 and/or the location receiver 416 functioning as thesensor device 450. The exemplary embodiments also provide for thecommunication device 400 capturing multiple types of sensoryinformation. For example, the sensor device 450 can be a lightingdetector that provides lighting information associated with theenvironment, along with images captured by the image sensor 413 andaudio captured by the audio system 412.

The communication device 400 can be adapted to perform the functions ofthe media processor 106, the media devices 108, or the portablecommunication devices 116 of FIG. 1, as well as the IMS CDs 201-202 andPSTN CDs 203-205 of FIG. 2. It will be appreciated that thecommunication device 400 can also represent other common devices thatcan operate in communication systems 100-200 of FIGS. 1-2 such as agaming console and a media player.

Illustrative embodiments of methods that can operate in portions of thecommunication device of FIG. 4 are described below.

FIG. 5 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a system 500 for gatheringsensory information associated with an environment 501 and generatingmedia content based on the gathered sensory information. System 500 canbe overlaid or operably coupled to communication systems 100-200 asanother representative embodiment of communication systems 100-200.System 500 can include a server 530 in communication with mediaprocessors 506 (such as set-top boxes), communication device 516 (suchas a laptop computer, a server, etc.), and mobile wireless communicationdevices 512 and 514 (such as mobile phones, smart phones, etc.). Themobile communication devices 512 and 514 can be communicatively coupledto the server 530 by way of a network 550 (e.g., a mobility network)coupled to the Internet or other communication means. The communicationdevice 516 can also be communicatively coupled to the server 530 by wayof the Internet or other communication means.

In this example, a first mobile communication device 512 can be coupledwith one or more sensor devices 513 for capturing sensory informationassociated with the sensory environment 1. A second mobile communicationdevice 514 can be coupled with one or more sensor devices 515 forcapturing sensory information associated with the sensory environment 2.A fixed communication device 516 can be coupled with one or more sensordevices 517 for capturing sensory information associated with thesensory environment 3. The sensors 513, 515 and 517 can be in proximityto the environment 501 in order to capture the sensory information ofthe environment 501. As shown in FIG. 5, the sensory environments 1, 2and 3 can overlap each other and encompass all or a portion of theenvironment 501 to facilitate capturing sensory information associatedwith the environment 501 that provides a full or more encompassingperspective of the environment 501.

The sensors 513, 515 and 517 can be of various numbers and can usevarious components, to capture various types of sensory informationincluding images, audio, temperature, weather, lighting, color, locationinformation, time, season of the year, and aroma associated with theenvironment 501. While system 500 depicts three devices that areutilized for capturing sensory information associated with environment501, it should be understood that any number of devices, includingmobile and/or fixed communication devices can be used for gatheringsensory information for generating media content.

In one embodiment, the mobile communication device 512 can broadcast awireless signal which is received by the mobile communication device 514and the fixed communication device 516. The wireless signal can be anotice to obtain sensory information associated with the environment501. The notice can advise other devices, including the mobilecommunication device 514 and the fixed communication device 516, thatmobile communication device 512 is utilizing sensor 513 to capturesensory information associated with the environment 501, such ascapturing still or moving images of the environment 501. The notice canalso request sensory information associated with the environment 501from other devices, including the mobile communication device 514 andthe fixed communication device 516. The broadcast signal can be ofvarious types utilizing various communication protocols. For example,the mobile communication device 512 can be a multi-mode communicationdevice and the wireless notice signal can be broadcast using a number ofdifferent communication protocols (simultaneously and/or serially) sothat different devices operating under different communication protocolscan be put on notice of the capture of the sensory information and/orthe request for sensory information. In one embodiment, the broadcastnotice signal can be a mid-range wireless signal (e.g., 100 meters).

The receipt of sensory information from other devices, including themobile communication device 514 and the fixed communication device 516,can be performed in a number of different ways. For instance, sensoryinformation can be exchanged between devices, such as the mobilecommunication device 512 transmitting sensory information captured bysensors 513 to the mobile communication device 514 while the mobilecommunication device 514 is transmitting sensory information captured bysensors 515 to the mobile communication device 512. In one embodiment,the sharing or otherwise providing of sensory information can be donebased on an opt-in procedure in response to broadcast of the notice. Inone embodiment, the providing of sensory information can be performedwhile maintaining anonymity of users associated with the communicationdevices, such as mobile communication devices 512 and 514 and fixedcommunication device 516.

In one embodiment, obtaining sensory information can be negotiated. Forexample, the mobile communication device 512 can transmit the noticewhich is received by the fixed communication device 516. The fixedcommunication device 516 can agree to transmit sensory informationcaptured by sensor 517. The agreement to send the sensory informationcaptured by sensor 517 can be based on a number of factors in thenegotiation. For example, the user of the mobile communication device512 may have a subscription to services provided by a service provideraffiliated with the fixed communication device 516. For instance, theenvironment 501 may be a concert in a park where a service provider isoperating a fixed communication device 516 to capture video and audio ofthe concert for broadcast over a channel of the service provider. Theuser of the mobile communication device 512 may have a subscription formedia services provided over the service provider channel. The fixedcommunication device 516 can provide the sensory information captured bythe sensor 517 to the mobile communication device 512, which in thiscase is the video and audio of the concert in the park. Media contentcan then be generated based on the video and audio content, as well asother sensory information captured by sensor 513 and/or received frommobile communication device 514 (which is captured by sensor 515). As anexample, the media content can be a presentation of the concert but fromone or more viewing angles that differ from the viewing angles utilizedby the sensor 517 of the fixed communication device 516 when capturingthe video content. In this example, media content can be generated basedon the concert in the park, but where the media content differs, inwhole or in part, from that which is broadcast by the service provider.The differences can be managed or otherwise determined by the user ofthe mobile communication device 512, such as based on user preferences,device capabilities and so forth.

In one embodiment, the exchange of sensory information can be performedin a daisy chain fashion so that the sensory information does not needto be received directly from a mobile device that captured the sensoryinformation, but rather can be forwarded from a mobile device thatreceived the sensory information from another mobile device. In thisexample, the use of the daisy chain techniques can enhance the abilityto capture varying perspectives of the environment 501.

System 500 allows for the generation of media content based on thesensory information that has been captured with respect to environment501. For example, mobile communication device 512 can gather sensoryinformation which is used for presenting first media content 538 atlocation 548. The first media content can be generated by one or more ofthe mobile communication device 512, the server 530 and the STB 506. Thefirst media content can be generated based on some or all of the sensoryinformation captured by one or more of sensors 513, 515 and 517. Mobilecommunication device 514 can gather sensory information which is usedfor presenting second media content 539 at location 549. The secondmedia content can be generated by one or more of the mobilecommunication device 514, the server 530 and the STB 506. The secondmedia content can be generated based on some or all of the sensoryinformation captured by one or more of sensors 513, 515 and 517.Although the first and second media content 538 and 539 may be similarbecause they are generated utilizing the same pool of sensoryinformation, there can be differences, including viewing angles,portions of images or other sensory information presented, and so forth.These differences can be selected based on user preferences, includinguser profiles, monitored user behavior, and so forth.

FIG. 6 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a system 600 for gatheringsensory information associated with an environment 601 and generatingmedia content based on the gathered sensory information. System 600 canbe overlaid or operably coupled to communication systems 100-200 and 500as another representative embodiment of communication systems 100-200and 500. System 600 can include a server 530 in communication with mediaprocessors 506 (such as set-top boxes) and mobile wireless communicationdevices 512 and 612 (such as mobile phones, smart phones, etc.). Themobile communication devices 512 and 612 can be communicatively coupledto the server 530 by way of a network 550 (e.g., a mobility network)coupled to the Internet or other communication means. Media content canbe presented at location 548 using the display device 508.

In this example, a first mobile communication device 512 can be coupledwith one or more sensor devices 513 for capturing sensory informationassociated with the environment 601. The first mobile communicationdevice 512 can be in communication with second mobile communicationdevice 612A which are coupled with one or more sensor devices 613A forcapturing sensory information associated with the environment 601. Thesecond communication devices 612A can be in communication with othersecond communication devices 612B which are coupled with one or moresensor devices 613B or 613C for capturing sensory information associatedwith the environment 601. In this example, a daisy chain process isutilized to provide first mobile communication device 512 with access toa greater pool of sensory information. In this example, first mobilecommunication device 512 can receive sensory information captured bysensors 613A and 613B from second mobile communication devices 612Awithout needing to communicate with any of the other second mobilecommunication devices 612B. As also shown by this example, access tosensory information can be selectively controlled, including by themobile device that captured the sensory information and/or the mobiledevice that is transmitting the sensory information. For example, firstmobile communication device 512 can receive via second communicationdevices 612A, the sensory information captured by sensors 613B withoutreceiving the sensory information captured by sensor 613C. In thisexample, the mobile communication device 612B that is coupled withsensor 613C can forward other sensory information that it receiveswithout sending the sensory information that it retrieves from its ownsensor 613C. Whether sensory information is shared with other devicescan be controlled by various entities according to various procedures.For example, a mobile device may agree to exchange sensory informationwith another mobile device subject to the sensory information not beingfurther distributed to other mobile devices.

FIG. 7 depicts an illustrative method 700 that operates in portions ofthe devices of FIGS. 1-6. Method 700 can begin with step 702 in which amobile communication device transmits a notice to obtain sensoryinformation associated with an environment, such as images, audio and soforth. Based on the notice, other communication devices, including fixedand/or mobile devices, can opt-in or opt-out of providing and/orreceiving sensory information. In step 704, devices desiring toparticipate, can exchange sensory information with the mobilecommunication device and/or can provide sensory information to themobile communication device without receiving sensory information inreturn. The exchange of sensory information can be performed withcontrols on the distribution of the sensory information, such aspermitting use of the sensory information in media content generated bya recipient device but prohibiting further distribution of the sensoryinformation to other devices.

In step 706, the mobile communication device can negotiate to obtainother sensory information, such as requesting sensory information froman entity operating a security camera in proximity to the environment.The negotiation can be based on various criteria, such as payment,exchange of sensory information, establishing a relationship with anentity operating the other communication device (such as becoming amember affiliated with the entity) and so forth. In one embodiment, thenegotiation can be based on future or past exchanges of sensoryinformation. For instance, a communication device can agree to presentlyprovide sensory information to the mobile communication device if themobile communication device agrees to exchange sensory information inthe future (in the event that the two devices again cross paths in aparticular environment). In step 708, the negotiated sensory informationcan be received from the other communication devices.

The gathered sensory information can be filtered in step 710 by anynumber of devices, including the mobile communication device, a remoteserver, an STB associated with the mobile communication device and soforth. The filtering can be performed based on various criteria,including user preferences, parental controls, digital rights management(e.g., detecting that some of the sensory information is subject toproprietary rights of another), and so forth.

The media content can be generated in step 712 based on some or all ofthe pool of sensory information that has been gathered. In step 714, thepresentation of the media content can be adjusted using portions of thesensory information that provides a different perspective of theenvironment. In one embodiment, editing of the media content can beperformed in a number of different ways, such as piecing together auser's life from a default perspective (e.g., primarily front view) tocreate a live scrap book, while other perspectives remain hidden wherethe user can launch the other perspectives such as when pausing asegment or otherwise requesting a different perspective. Theperspectives can include a view from afar (e.g., sensor from building100 meters away), a view from behind (bystander sensor captures viewfrom behind), a view from friends or family while in a group setting. Inone embodiment, if there is a stadium or concert hall recording (e.g.,football, baseball, soccer, concert, etc.), a user can request viewsthroughout the stadium based on the presence of other mobilecommunication device throughout the stadium.

In one embodiment, the media content can be generated into 3D imagesfrom 2D images captured by the sensors. The remote server, the mobilecommunication device, the STB and/or some other device can utilize thedifferent viewing angles provided by different images of the sensoryinformation to generate 3D content and/or holographic content. Inanother embodiment, a depth map can be utilized to generate the 3Dcontent.

The media content can also be generated using other information. Forexample, media content can be generated based on a user watching his orher child's baseball game at a ball field. Other media content, such asimages of professional ball players, and clips of professionalannouncers which correspond to action occurring during the child's gamecan be spliced or otherwise combined with the media content generatedfrom the sensory information. Additionally, media content previouslygenerated by the user and/or sensory information previously gatheredthat is related to the child's baseball game can be spliced or otherwisecombined with the media content generated from the present sensoryinformation, such as adding images of the child from earlier games whensimilar plays were made or images showing the age progression of thechild.

FIG. 8 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a system 800 for gatheringsensory information associated with an environment 801 (having audio802) and generating media content based on the gathered sensoryinformation. System 800 can be overlaid or operably coupled tocommunication systems 100-200 and 500-600 as another representativeembodiment of communication systems 100-200 and 500-600. System 800 caninclude a server 530 in communication with media device or processor 506(such as set-top boxes) and mobile wireless communication devices 512and 514 (such as mobile phones, smart phones, etc.), as well as fixedcommunication device 516. The mobile communication devices 512 and 514and the fixed communication device 516 can be communicatively coupled tothe server 530 by way of a network 550 (e.g., a mobility network)coupled to the Internet or other communication means. Media content canbe presented at location 849 using the display device 508.

In this example, sensory information can be obtained from the variouscommunication devices in proximity to the environment 801, such asmobile devices 512 and 514 and fixed device 516. The media device 506can then generate a plurality of personal content, shown as content 815,820 and 825, from the sensory information. In the exemplary embodiment,the media device 506, such as an STB, is generating the plurality ofcontent. However, it should be understood that the media device 506 canbe a number of different devices (such as a personal computer, smartphone, etc.). Additionally, other devices can be used for generating allor some of the plurality of personal content (including portions of oneor more of the personal content), including the server 530 and/or othermedia devices associated with other users.

The personal content 815, 820 and 825 can be different versions of thecontent generated from portions of the sensory information. Thedifferent versions of the personal content can be based on criteriaestablished or otherwise associated with the user seeking to generatethe personal content. For example, a user profile can be used to piecetogether the personal content from the sensory information. Monitoredviewing behavior, as well as previously generated personal content, canbe used for generating the plurality of different versions. The user canalso define the criteria for generating the personal content, such astarget individuals, sounds, objects, time and so forth to be included inthe personal content to the extent that the sensory information hascaptured these criteria. In personal content 815, audio for one or moreindividuals in the content can be included. The sensory information canbe analyzed to provide images of the individuals without backgroundimages. In personal content 820, the perspective of the sensoryinformation (e.g., the viewing angle and zoom) can be selected so thatonly select individuals are shown while there audio is only heardwithout the audio of others in the environment. This can be accomplishedby reviewing the sensory information and selecting sensory informationcaptured by sensor devices that provide the desired viewing angle anddesired audio output. Personal content 825 can provide a completepanoramic perspective of the environment, with or without theaccompanying audio.

The different versions of the personal content can be accessed bydifferent requestors based on a number of factors. In one embodiment, arelationship between the user who generated the personal content and therequestor can be determined and utilized to provide or deny the access.For instance, relationships such as immediate family, family, closefriends, friends, acquaintances can be used to determine if access canbe granted. In one embodiment, the user can customize the relationshipsincluding providing monitorable definitions, such as an acquaintancebecoming a friend when it is determined that a threshold number ofmessages have been exchanged between the user and the acquaintance.Different channels can be provided by a service provider to view thedifferent versions of the content.

FIG. 9 depicts an illustrative method 900 that operates in portions ofthe devices and methods of FIGS. 1-8. Method 900 can begin withreceiving sensory information at 902. The sensory information can bereceived at a media device, such as an STB, and/or can be received atanother device that generates personal content, such as remote server130. The sensory information can be associated with an environment andreceived from various devices including a mobile device associated withthe media device, mobile device(s) not associated with the media deviceand/or fixed communication devices. The sensory information can bereceived via the related mobile device and/or directly from the othercommunication devices.

At 904, criteria for generating personal content can be obtained. Forinstance, the user can input criteria in a user interface of the mediadevice. As another example, the criteria can be established based on auser profile and/or based on monitored viewing behavior of the userand/or previous personal content that was generated. In one embodiment,the criteria can be independent of the preferences of the user, such asbased on parental controls or based on an automatic generationalgorithm. At 906, a number of different versions of the personalcontent can be generated based on the criteria. The different versionscan include the same or different portions of the sensory information,such as images from different viewing angles, different audio, and soforth. The different versions can also be directed towards differenttarget audiences. For example, an immediate family version can begenerated that provides close-up images and audio of the user with alimited amount of images and audio from other individuals. In oneembodiment, versions can be target to particular individuals. Forexample, a version of the personal content may be generated thatincludes all of the images and audio of the user and his friend, whilelimiting images and audio of other individuals.

At 908, the media device or another component can analyze the videoand/or audio of each of the personal content for objectionable material.For instance, the analysis can be automatic without user interaction,based on image and speech recognition. The analysis can be based on userinteraction and/or the version of the personal content that is beinggenerated. For example, certain images or words may be objectionable inthe family version of the personal content but may be acceptable in thefriend's version of the content. At 910, one or more versions of thepersonal content can be adjusted based on objectionable material, aswell as based on other criteria. In one embodiment, the audio generatedfrom certain individuals may be muted. In another embodiment, the imagesof certain individuals may be obscured or otherwise blocked. The mutingand/or obscuring can be based on objectionable material, userpreferences, agreement negotiated with one or more suppliers of thesensory information, and so forth. For instance, a second mobilecommunication device may agree to provide sensory information thatincludes images provided that images of the user of the second mobilecommunication device are obscured in the personal content.

At 912, a request for personal content can be received and adetermination of a relationship between the requestor and the generatorof the personal content can be made. The relationship can be of manyforms, including business and personal, and can be customized orautomatically defined. At 914, access to personal content can be grantedor denied based on a determined relationship of a requestor. The accesscan be provided in a number of different ways, such as via channels inan interactive television network (e.g., IPTV), streaming between mediadevices, and so forth.

In one embodiment, the gathering of sensory information from othercommunication devices can be based on a location of the particular otherdevices. For example, priority of retrieving sensory information can beutilized in order to enable gathering sensory information from a limitedviewing angle. For instance, where a first group of devices are locatedin close proximity and a second group of devices are located remotelyfrom each other, gathering of the sensory information from the secondgroup of devices can be given priority to enable obtaining a widerperspective or viewing angle of the environment. The use ofprioritization for gathering sensory information can be particularlyhelpful where a mobile communication device has limited storage capacityand/or limited time to negotiate an exchange of sensory information. Byprioritizing the gathering of sensory information to target deviceshaving better perspective over an environment, personal content can begenerated with improved perspective.

Upon reviewing the aforementioned embodiments, it would be evident to anartisan with ordinary skill in the art that said embodiments can bemodified, reduced, or enhanced without departing from the scope andspirit of the claims described below. The exemplary embodiments canperform collection of sensory information utilizing a number ofdifferent sources, including sensors carried by a user, fixed sensors inbuilding and street infrastructure, sensors carried by friends andfamily, sensors carried by bystanders, and so forth. The devicediscovery and/or sharing of sensory data can be performed utilizing anumber of different techniques, such as a user broadcasting a mid-rangesignal (e.g., 100 meters) indicating the user is recording his/her life,devices with sensors in proximity can detect the broadcast, devices canrespond with opt-in or opt-out response to share data, user of devicemay identify him/herself or remain private (e.g., friends and family canidentify themselves while bystanders and fixed infrastructure sensorsremain anonymous.

In one embodiment, discovery of devices can be daisy chained so that auser can build up a broader collection of sensory data, such as a userin a sports complex or concert hall discovering devices nearby andrequesting a recording of the experience in the user's proximity andthroughout the sports complex or concert hall. In this example, sensorscan opt-in or opt-out, and information can be shared by daisy chain orby transmission on a data channel (e.g., 3G or 4G) to a server.Organizing of the collected sensory information can be performed in anumber of different ways, such as based on an order of priorityincluding vicinity to user, friends and family, and perspectives (e.g.,front, back, side, rear). The filtering of sensory information can beperformed in a number of different ways such as quality of sensory data,including clarity visually, clarity audibly, identify portions that canbe live, and identify portions that can be still images.

FIG. 10 depicts an exemplary diagrammatic representation of a machine inthe form of a computer system 1000 within which a set of instructions,when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethods discussed above. One or more instances of the machine canoperate, for example, as the server 530, the media processor 506, thedisplay 508, the fixed communication device 516, mobile devices 512,514, or combinations thereof as described above. In some embodiments,the machine may be connected (e.g., using a network) to other machines.In a networked deployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of aserver or a client user machine in server-client user networkenvironment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed)network environment.

The machine may comprise a server computer, a client user computer, apersonal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a smart phone, a laptop computer, adesktop computer, a control system, a network router, switch or bridge,or any machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential orotherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. It will beunderstood that a communication device of the present disclosureincludes broadly any electronic device that provides voice, video ordata communication. Further, while a single machine is illustrated, theterm “machine” shall also be taken to include any collection of machinesthat individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) ofinstructions to perform any one or more of the methods discussed herein.

The computer system 1000 may include a processor 1002 (e.g., a centralprocessing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU, or both), a mainmemory 1004 and a static memory 1006, which communicate with each othervia a bus 1008. The computer system 1000 may further include a videodisplay unit 1010 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD), a flat panel,or a solid state display. The computer system 1000 may include an inputdevice 1012 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control device 1014 (e.g., amouse), a disk drive unit 1016, a signal generation device 1018 (e.g., aspeaker or remote control) and a network interface device 1020.

The disk drive unit 1016 may include a tangible computer-readablestorage medium 1022 on which is stored one or more sets of instructions(e.g., software 1024) embodying any one or more of the methods orfunctions described herein, including those methods illustrated above.The instructions 1024 may also reside, completely or at least partially,within the main memory 1004, the static memory 1006, and/or within theprocessor 1002 during execution thereof by the computer system 1000. Themain memory 1004 and the processor 1002 also may constitute tangiblecomputer-readable storage media.

Dedicated hardware implementations including, but not limited to,application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays andother hardware devices can likewise be constructed to implement themethods described herein. Applications that may include the apparatusand systems of various embodiments broadly include a variety ofelectronic and computer systems. Some embodiments implement functions intwo or more specific interconnected hardware modules or devices withrelated control and data signals communicated between and through themodules, or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit.Thus, the example system is applicable to software, firmware, andhardware implementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, themethods described herein are intended for operation as software programsrunning on a computer processor. Furthermore, software implementationscan include, but not limited to, distributed processing orcomponent/object distributed processing, parallel processing, or virtualmachine processing can also be constructed to implement the methodsdescribed herein.

While the tangible computer-readable storage medium 1022 is shown in anexample embodiment to be a single medium, the term “tangiblecomputer-readable storage medium” should be taken to include a singlemedium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database,and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets ofinstructions. The term “tangible computer-readable storage medium” shallalso be taken to include any non-transitory medium that is capable ofstoring or encoding a set of instructions for execution by the machineand that cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methods ofthe present disclosure.

The term “tangible computer-readable storage medium” shall accordinglybe taken to include, but not be limited to: solid-state memories such asa memory card or other package that houses one or more read-only(non-volatile) memories, random access memories, or other re-writable(volatile) memories, a magneto-optical or optical medium such as a diskor tape, or other tangible media which can be used to store information.Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include any one or more ofa tangible computer-readable storage medium, as listed herein andincluding art-recognized equivalents and successor media, in which thesoftware implementations herein are stored.

Although the present specification describes components and functionsimplemented in the embodiments with reference to particular standardsand protocols, the disclosure is not limited to such standards andprotocols. Each of the standards for Internet and other packet switchednetwork transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, HTTP) representexamples of the state of the art. Such standards are from time-to-timesuperseded by faster or more efficient equivalents having essentiallythe same functions. Wireless standards for device detection (e.g.,RFID), short-range communications (e.g., Bluetooth, WiFi, Zigbee), andlong-range communications (e.g., WiMAX, GSM, CDMA) are contemplated foruse by computer system 1000.

The illustrations of embodiments described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments,and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all theelements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use ofthe structures described herein. Many other embodiments will be apparentto those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Otherembodiments may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structuraland logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing fromthe scope of this disclosure. Figures are also merely representationaland may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may beexaggerated, while others may be minimized. Accordingly, thespecification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative ratherthan a restrictive sense.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and describedherein, it should be appreciated that any arrangement calculated toachieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodimentsshown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations orvariations of various embodiments. Combinations of the aboveembodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein,will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the abovedescription.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided with the understanding thatit will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of theclaims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can beseen that various features are grouped together in a single embodimentfor the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method ofdisclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that theclaimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited ineach claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subjectmatter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment.Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the DetailedDescription, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimedsubject matter.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device comprising: a memory that storesexecutable instructions; and a controller coupled to the memory, whereinthe controller, responsive to executing the instructions, performsoperations comprising: receiving, from a first communication device of aplurality of communication devices, sensory information representingcharacteristics of a first environment of the first communicationdevice, wherein a first portion of the sensory information is capturedby a sensor coupled to a second communication device located in a secondenvironment in response to the first communication device broadcasting anotice requesting sensory information from other devices of theplurality of communication devices, wherein a broadcasting signalstrength of the notice is selected based on characteristics of the firstenvironment determined by the first communication device, wherein thefirst portion of the sensory information captured by the sensorrepresents a characteristic of the second environment in common with thefirst environment, and wherein a second portion of the sensoryinformation is obtained by the first communication device from the firstenvironment; and generating media content based on the sensoryinformation.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first portion of thesensory information is obtained by the first communication device via anexchange of sensory information between the first communication deviceand the second communication device.
 3. The device of claim 2, whereinthe exchange is in accordance with an agreement between the firstcommunication device and the second communication device, and whereinthe agreement comprises a restriction on distribution of the sensoryinformation to other devices.
 4. The device of claim 2, wherein theexchange comprises a business transaction between entities associatedwith the first communication device and the second communication devicerespectively.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the first communicationdevice obtains the sensory information from the second communicationdevice while maintaining anonymity of a user associated with the secondcommunication device.
 6. The device of claim 3, wherein the mediacontent comprises an image, wherein the operations further compriseobscuring a portion of the image, and wherein the obscuring is performedin accordance with the agreement.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein thesensory information comprises still images, moving images, audio,temperature, weather, lighting, color, location information, time,season of the year, or aroma associated with the first environment orthe second environment.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein the secondcommunication device is in communication with a third communicationdevice of the plurality of communication devices, wherein a thirdportion of the sensory information is captured by a sensor coupled withthe third communication device and is obtained by the secondcommunication device from the third communication device, and whereinthe third portion of the sensory information is obtained by the firstcommunication device from the second communication device without thefirst communication device communicating with the third communicationdevice.
 9. The device of claim 1, wherein the first communication deviceis a mobile multi-mode communication device.
 10. The device of claim 9,wherein the plurality of communication devices use a plurality ofdifferent communication protocols, and the notice is broadcast using theplurality of different communication protocols.
 11. The device of claim9, wherein the notice advises the plurality of communication devicesregarding a type of information captured by a first sensor coupled withthe first communication device.
 12. A method comprising: receiving, by adevice, sensory information representing characteristics of a firstenvironment of a first communication device of a plurality ofcommunication devices, wherein the sensory information is captured by aplurality of sensors coupled with the plurality of communicationdevices, wherein a first portion of the sensory information is capturedby a sensor coupled to a second communication device located in a secondenvironment in response to a notice broadcast by the first communicationdevice requesting sensory information from other devices of theplurality of communication devices, wherein a broadcasting signalstrength of the notice is selected based on characteristics of the firstenvironment determined by the first communication device, wherein thefirst portion of the sensory information captured by the sensorrepresents a characteristic of the second environment in common with thefirst environment, wherein a second portion of the sensory informationis obtained by the first communication device from the firstenvironment; receiving, by the device, first criteria for generatingmedia content from the sensory information; generating, by the device,the media content in accordance with the first criteria, the mediacontent comprising an image; analyzing, by the device, the media contentin accordance with second criteria; and adjusting, by the device, themedia content based on the analyzing.
 13. The method of claim 12,wherein the media content comprises an image, and wherein the adjustingcomprises obscuring a portion of the image.
 14. The method of claim 12,wherein the first portion of the sensory information is obtained by thefirst communication device via an exchange of sensory informationbetween the first communication device and the second communicationdevice, and wherein the exchange is based on an agreement between thefirst communication device and the second communication device.
 15. Themethod of claim 14, wherein the sensory information comprises an image,and wherein the agreement provides that a portion of the image obtainedby the first communication is obscured.
 16. The method of claim 14,wherein the exchange comprises a business transaction between entitiesassociated with the first communication device and the secondcommunication device respectively.
 17. A method comprising:transmitting, by a first communication device of a plurality ofcommunication devices, a notice via a broadcast signal to a secondcommunication device requesting sensory information representingcharacteristics of a first environment of the first communicationdevice, the sensory information captured by a sensor coupled with thesecond communication device, the second communication device beinglocated in a second environment, wherein a signal strength of thebroadcast signal is selected based on characteristics of the firstenvironment determined by the first communication device, wherein thesensory information is captured by the sensor in response to the noticeand represents a characteristic of the second environment in common withthe first environment; obtaining, by the first communication device, thesensory information via an exchange between the first communicationdevice and the second communication device; and providing, by the firstcommunication device, the sensory information to a media device forgeneration of media content, the media device being remote from both thefirst environment and the second environment.
 18. The method of claim17, wherein the first communication device transmits the notice using acommunication protocol of the second communication device.
 19. Themethod of claim 17, wherein the exchange comprises a businesstransaction between a first entity associated with the firstcommunication device and a second entity associated with the secondcommunication device.
 20. The method of claim 17, wherein the firstcommunication device obtains the sensory information from the secondcommunication device while maintaining anonymity of a user associatedwith the second communication device.